Bay City, Michigan 48706
Front Page 03/29/2024 10:22 About us
Home Sports Community Arts/Theater Business Economy - Local The Scene
History Health/Fitness Contests
Issue 1207 April 10, 2011
(Prior Story)   Columns ArTicle 9289   (Next Story)


Harry Jarkey's daughters, Linda and Julie, scatter their late father's ashes off the stern of an excursion boat.

JARKEY HONORED: Inimitable Comedian Harry Jarkey Final Act at Wenona Beach

August 28, 2014       Leave a Comment
By: Dave Rogers

Printer Friendly Story View

Off in the distance, across the softly lapping water of Saginaw Bay, you could almost hear the laughter and clapping.

The mystical scene was perhaps the Almighty's way of whispering -- "Bless you Harry for the joy you gave to so many."

One of the Midwest's best-known comedians, Harry Jarkey, came back home to Wenona Beach recently when his ashes were spread near the former site of his beloved casino.

Jarkey died in Palm Springs, California, on June 1, two months short of his 101st birthday.

Harry's final appearance and a memorial luncheon at the Saginaw Bay Yacht Club was engineered by Jerry Jopke, one of his close friends, a retired automotive executive and Bay City aficionado.

Show business compadres like singer Betty Dahlinger, 90, who had performed with Jarkey many times in Detroit and Chicago, joined with beach people like Margie Carland, entrepreneur Meade Gougeon and author J.R. Watson who have embraced the Wenona Beach years with enthusiasm.

Jarkey first wowed crowds at the popular casino in 1935 and he often did encores for Bay Cityans who gave him affection as well as laughter and applause.

The casino and the amusement park that had stood for many decades were torn down by last owner Frank Cliff in 1966 to make room for a mobile home park.

But the memories of Wenona Beach, and especially the casino that saw many Vaudeville acts over the decades, linger in the hearts and minds of those who enjoyed them.

The feeling was mutual between Bay City and Jarkey; he said he came back as often as he could since it seemed like home. His two daughters, Linda and Julie were born at Mercy Hospital while Harry was here during golden summers of an age sadly gone by.

The event recalled a time when Harry and his friends, Danny Thomas, Milton Berle, Jimmy Durante, his second cousin Dinah Shore, Red Skelton and others of their kin ruled the nation's comedy scene.

In Detroit Harry is best remembered for his shows on WXYZ-TV: "Our Friend Harry," and "Fun House," - See more at: http://deathnotices.michigan.com/view-single.php?id=343918#sthash.BeBtYSR8.dpuf

Click Here To See the June 5, 2014 MyBayCity Article: "JARKEY DIES AT 100,"

###

Printer Friendly Story View
Prior Article

February 10, 2020
by: Rachel Reh
Family Winter Fun Fest is BACC Hot Spot for 2/10/2020
Next Article

February 2, 2020
by: Kathy Rupert-Mathews
MOVIE REVIEW: "Just Mercy" ... You Will Shed Tears, or at Least You Should
Agree? or Disagree?


Dave Rogers

Dave Rogers is a former editorial writer for the Bay City Times and a widely read,
respected journalist/writer in and around Bay City.
(Contact Dave Via Email at carraroe@aol.com)

More from Dave Rogers

Send This Story to a Friend!       Letter to the editor       Link to this Story
Printer-Friendly Story View


--- Advertisments ---
     


0200 Nd: 03-25-2024 d 4 cpr 1






12/31/2020 P3v3-0200-Ad.cfm

SPONSORED LINKS



12/31/2020 drop ads P3v3-0200-Ad.cfm


Designed at OJ Advertising, Inc. (V3) (v3) Software by Mid-Michigan Computer Consultants
Bay City, Michigan USA
All Photographs and Content Copyright © 1998 - 2024 by OJA/MMCC. They may be used by permission only.
P3V3-0200 (1) 0   ID:Default   UserID:Default   Type:reader   R:x   PubID:mbC   NewspaperID:1207
  pid:1560   pd:11-18-2012   nd:2024-03-25   ax:2024-03-29   Site:5   ArticleID:9289   MaxA: 999999   MaxAA: 999999
claudebot